Vending machine



March 30, 1948.

M. L. HOLT VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OCT.. 5, 1944 March30, 1948. M. HOLT 2,438,502

VENDING MACHINE Filed oct. 5, 1944 4 sheets-shei 2 March 3o, 1948. M; L;HOU 2,438,502

' VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 17944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 30, 1948.M. L. HoLT VENDING MACHINE 4 sheets-shee't 4 Filed OCT.. 5, 1944Patented Mar. 30, 1948 VENDING MACHINE Marcus L. Holt, Lookout Mountain,Ga., assignor of one-half to John B. Brock, Adairsville, Ga.

Application October 5, 1944, Serial No. 557,281

13 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to vending machines, and is particularlyconcerned with Vending machines of the coin controlled type,particularly adapted to be used for vending bottled goods, such asbeverages.

The vending machine, however, iscapable of handling Various type ofmerchandise packed in a round container, and in some embodiments of theinvention might be adapted for the vending of canned goods.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improvedvending machine structure adapted to facilitate the packing of a maximumnumber of articles to be vended in a minimum space and in such mannerthat the articles may be discharged subject to the control of a coincontrolled device, one by one, with a minimum amount of wear and tear orbreakage of the articles to be vended.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedconstruction of a vending machine for bottled goods of the type in whichthe bottles are stacked in substantially horizontal position in a pairof vertically extending series, the bottles of each series being oisetvertically with respect to the bottles of the other series, and thebottles of each series extending into the spaces between the bottles ofthe other series in such manner that bottles are withdrawn alternatelyfrom each of the series at the bottom, and the entire two series ofbottles are all controlled by the lowermost bottle of one of the seriesat any particular time.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved vendingmachine for bottled goods of the class described in which the bottlesare maintained out of contact with each other so that the bottles do notrub against each other and so that the printed matter, such as the nameof the manufacturer, trade-marks, etc.`on the bottles will not be marredor destroyed, as may be the case in some of the devices of the priorart.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved vendingmachine of the class described which requires a minimum amount of timeand effort in the loading of the machine, which is simple, which may beeconomically manufactured, and which may be manufactured in a unit formso that the capacity of any installation may merely depend upon thenumber of units that are used in the installation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved vendingmachine of the class described, the operation of which is certain anddependable so that there is no possibility of the vendee getting morethan one bottle for each coin deposited and, so that the .vendee is alsoassured of getting the merchandise for which he has made his deposit.

Another object is the provision of an improved vending machine forbottled goods in which the major portion of the weight of the bottleswhich n are arranged in two columns, is supported by virtue of thefriction with the vertical guides and by a horizontal swinging spacer sothat the discharge of all the bottles in the two columns is controlledby the lowermost bottle but there is a minimum amount of weight orpressure on any bottle which minimizes the possibility of breakage.

Other objects and advantages 0f the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings, in which similarcharacters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the four sheets of drawings accompanying this specication,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a vending machine embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, showing the lower part ofthe vending machine;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View, with part of the mechanism brokenaway, to omit repetition of the same structure;

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken on the plane of the line 4 4 of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows; f

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The vending machine is preferably supported upon a supporting frame,which is indicated in its entirety by the numeral Il). This mechanismmay consist of a bottom frame, which is substantially rectangular inside elevation and iront elevation, and which consists of a plurality ofangle iron frame members suitably welded or otherwise secured together.

Thus, the base frame consists of a pair of horizontal angle irons II,I2, joined together at the front by a transverse angle iron I3, and atthe back by a transverse frame member I4 (Fig. 4), forming the upperpart of the base frame.

This base frame is supported by depending angle iron legs l5 to I8,which extend downwardly at right angles to the top frame members I I toI4, and are also Welded to them. Two forward legs I5 and I8 may bejoined by a brace plate I9 located below the trough 20, from which thebottles are discharged.

The front and rear legs on each side, such as the legs I5, I6, and I1,I8, are joined by side plates 2 I, 22 secured to the legs by welding orother fastening means, and aiding in defining the trough member 20.

The trough member 20 may consist of a sheet metal member bent tosubstantially U-shape and increasing in depth from the back toward the`front so that the trough slopes sufficiently to cause the bottles todrop out by gravity. The sheet metal trough 2U is preferably covered onits lower side with a layer of sheet rubber 23 secured to the trough bysuitable screw bolts and projecting forwardly beyond the trough at 24'in substantially U-shape, to provide a non-metallic continuation of thetrough for deadening sound, and permitting the discharge of the bottleswith a minimum amount of noise.

The metal lining of the trough gives the trough a minimum amount offriction so that the bottles are quickly impelled out of the dischargeopening 25 in the frontbf the base frame by gravity.

The angle irons which form the rear legs It, I1 may extend above thebase frame and form a part of the upper frame, which comprises thesupporting and guiding mechanism for the bottles. Thus the legs I6, I1extend to the top of the frame,

where they are joined by a transverse frame member 26 to anothervertically extending angle iron ramemember 21 or 28, one being Yon eachside of the structure, to form an upper yframework which is alsosubstantially rectangular in plan and side elevation,

At the top the upper frame members 26 are joined by transverse framebars 29, 3Q that are secured to the frame members 26 by screw bolts orother convenient fastening means so that an open, rigid framework isprovided for supporting the bottles. Y This open framework is preferablyprovided at predetermined'points with additional guides for engaging andguiding the bottles, such as, for example, the vertical guide rods 3l,3I, which engage the cap of the bottle, and the vertical guide rods 32,32, which engage the outside of` each bottle adjacent the neck.

Other guide members which are preferably provided are the vertical guiderods 33, 33 carried by the frame members 21, 28 for engaging the side ofthe bottle, preferablyat its restriction, near theY bottom, and theguide rods 34, 34, which engage the ends of the bottles.

Y cient room for the frame members and guide Y The frame of themechanism is preferably made of steel or other suitable material, butthe guide rods are preferably made of softer material', such as brass,which is adapted toproduce-a minimum amount of abrasion on the bottles.

In order to support the guide rods 3l, 32, the corner frame members I3,I1 may be provided with a plurality of angular brackets 35, 38. Theangular brackets 35 may be welded or bolted to the frame member I6 andthe brackets 38 may be welded or bolted to the frame member I1.Reierring to Fig. 4, it can be seenthat the bracket 35 has supportingflanges 33, 31 which extend at right angles to each other. IThe bracket33 has a Vsimilar construction. The brackets 35, 38 support the rods 3I,32 in proper position, the rods being welded to the brackets. At theupper end of the framework a bracket 35 is provided (Fig. 1) to supportthe upper ends of the rods 3 I 32, the rods being Welded to the bracket.The bracket '95.i's welded to a transverse support member 29 which isbolted to the transverse frame member 26.

At the lower ends of the rods 3 I,`32, a substantially inverted U-shapedbracket 93 is provided n ries will assume a position so that when thebottles shaped flange of the bracket 93 is provided soV that the angularbracket 55 can be bolted thereto and in -turn the bracket 55 is fastenedto the bearing strip52 of the frame member 53 to support the same i Theguide rods 33, which engage the convex side Y of the bottles of eachseries on the outside of the assembly, may be pinned or welded to theadjacent langes of thev frame members 21, 23.

In orderto provide for the loading of the mechanism, the guide rods 34are movably supported in such'manner that they have two positions, one

in which they engage the ends of the bottles, and the other in whichthey are pivoted outward so that the bottles may be'replaced fromthefront end of the machine.

For this purpose each 4guide rod 34 is welded or otherwise secured to avertical angle iron frame member MLwhichin turn is pivotally mountedcn apair of links 4I, one link being disposed at ther upper'end, and anotherat the lowerl end, as shown in Fig. 3. K Y n The links 4I arepivotally'mounted on the angle iron brackets 42, which are carriedbytheupper framemembers II, I2 of the base. At the upper end the links 4lare pivoted upon gooseneck rods 34 to pivot'upward and pass over untilthese members reach the dotted line position of Fig, 3,

in which the framework is open, to replace the bottles from the frontend'of the/machine.

The `spacing between the guides 3I and the guides 34 is sufficienttopermitthese members to engage the two ends ofthe bottles with asuitablek clearancev sothat Ytl'i'e'b'ottles may 'slide freely anddownwardly inthe frame when released bythe mechanism, f

VThe spacing between the guidemembersSZ', 33 on one side and guidemembers 32, 33 on the other side is such that'the bottlesV inthejrespective seare engaging the pivotal supporting members' d5interposed between each pair ofbottles, the spac- 'ingbetween'thesupportingV member d'5 and guides v32 and 33 for each bottle issuflicient to prevent Thefsupporting members-45 may all be similary Vinshape, and they are preferably pivotally supported on the framework.4For this purpose the 'framework is provided with a top frame'member 41,which is secured to the Ycross bars`29, 39 by welding or bolting, andwhich'has rthe depen-ding f angle irons 48, 49. y'

The angle irons 48,v 49 each carries a vertically extendingbar or framemember 50,75I provided with-a bearing member 752, 53,..c0mprising astrip of brass or steel, which is provided with apertures 54,.as shownin Fig. 5, serving as bearings for the trunnions which are formed by theends of each supporting member 45.

The bars 5S, 5i confine the supporting members l5 against axialmovement, and the bearing strips 52, 53 provide for the pivotal movementof the supporting members 435,

The vertical frame members 55, 5I are also secured to the frame at theirlower ends, such as, for example, frame member 5| and its bearing strip53 may be secured at the bottom to the front angle iron I3 by means of asuitable bolt.

The frame member 5i! and its bearing strip 52 may be secured to thecentral leg of the E-shaped horizontal flange of bracket 96 by means ofsultable bolts and the angle bracket 55.

The pivoted supporting members 45 are located midway between the lateralguides 32, 33 and 32, and, as all of these supporting members aresimilar in shape, only one need be described. Each supporting member ispreferably constructed of a rod of brass or other suitable metal, suchas steel, having a straight central portion 55, which is covered with anon-metallic cushion 57, such as a rubber tube, and which is adapted toengage and support the bottles.

At the front end, which is adjacent the bottom of the bottle, each rodforming the pivoted supporting members l5 is bent upward at an obtuseangle, forming a crank portion 58, which is again bentl longitudinallyto form a trunnion 59, which is pivotally mounted in the bearing strip53.

At the other end of the straight portion 55, the rod is bent upward atan obtuse angle, providing a diagonally extending crank portion 56located adjacent the neck of the bottle. This diagonal crank portion S5is again bent laterally adjacent the top of the neck, and the endportion 6l of the rod is located in the same axis as the trunnion 59,forming another trunnion at that end of the `rod for engagement in thebearings of the rbearing strip 52.

The bearings in these strips are spaced vertically suiciently so thatthe pivoted supporting members d5 may be located as shown in Fig. 2 whenthe mechanism is loaded with bottles.

All of the pivoted supporting members 45, except the lowermost one,indicated at 45a, terminate inside of the frame members 5l), 5l, but thepivoted supporting member 55a has its left trunnion (Fig, l) elongatedor extended through a bore 52 in the frame member 5i! and beyond thisbore, to provide a support for a latching member E3, which controls thedescent of all of the bottles.

The latching member 63 comprises a flat rectangular plate of metal,which is provided with a centrally located bore and with a hub 65 weldedto the plate at said bo-re.

The hub 5&5 has a set screw 55, by means of which the latching member 63may be lxedly secured to the shaft 55a of the first or lowermost pivotedsupporting member 45. The latching member 53 is provided with theconvexly curved lower and upper edges 55, 6l, which are formed with thespaced grooves 58, 69, '10, and "H, Only two of these grooves at one endof the latching member 53 may be used at one time, but the spacingbetween the grooves 63, E9, and grooves '15, 'H may be varied so thatthe latter are adapted to handle bottles of dilerent size or shape.

The grooves 55 to 'H are adapted to receive the roller l2, which iscarried by the cross-head 73 located on the upper end of a plunger 74,which forms the armature of a solenoid. The grooves 68 to 1| arepreferably slightly larger in a lateral direction than the roller 'l2 soas to provide a clearance, to assure the roller entering into one of thegrooves upon upward movement of the plunger.

The cross-head i3 is preferably constructed of non-magnetic metal, whilethe roller 'l2 may be constructed of steel, and it is rotatably mountedupon a pin l5 carried by the upwardly extending legs 16 of thecross-head 73.

The cross-head 'I3 is secured to a laminated plunger 'lll by means of atransverse through bolt "Il, the cross-head having an apertured tonguei8, which is located between the upwardly extending halves 'i9 on theplunger 14. The plunger is built up of a plurality of thin laminationsof soft iron or metal of magnetic qualities, and it may be provided atits lower end with an axially extending brass guide rod Sil, which isslidably received in a bore 8i in the laminated flux carrying member 82.

The laminated flux carrying member 82 is preferably of the closed type,and also comprises a multiplicity of laminations of magnetic metal, suchas soft iron, forming a substantially rectangular fra-me with a centralopening 83 for receiving the solenoid coils S4.

The solenoid coils are provided with a vertically extending bore, whichthey surround, and which is adapted to receive the armature or plunger'M A compression spring B5 is compressed between a shoulder 85 on the.armature and the upper end of the core 82, urging the plunger to theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 2. When the coils of the solenoidare energized, the plungeris pulled downwardly, pulling the roller 'l2out of one of the grooves 68 or 59.

vThe solenoid core 32 and its associated parts are all preferablymounted upon a supporting plate 81, which in turn is carried by thetransverse lower rear frame member i4.

.The mechanism is preferably provided on its forward side with asuitable coin control 38 in the form of a housing having a coin actuatedswitch and a slot 89 for receiving coins. A coin dropped in the slot 89passes down a guide 95 and engages a pivoted switch lever 9i, which itpivots in a clockwise direction to close contacts to which theconductors 52, 93 are connected.

The conductors 92, 93 lead to the solenoid coils 85. The arrangement ofthe switch lever 9| is preferably such that contact is momentarily madeas the coin passes, after which the coin is permitted to pass by thelever 9|, and then the lever, which is urged upwardly by a suitable coilspring 94, returns to its position, blocking the guide 59, Various typesof coin controlled switches may be employed with my mechanism, and Idesire it to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to anyparticular type of coin actuated switch.

The operation of my coin controlled vending machine is as follows: Themachine may be loaded by moving the end frame members il and theirguides 35 from the full line position of Fig, 3 to the dotted lineposition, which opens the end of the frame. The lowermost pivotedsupporting member 45a may then be either in the left or the rightposition; but assuming it to be in the position of Fig. 2, looking atthe rear of the machine, the cushion 51 on the straight portion 55 ofthis supporting member is located to engage the lower right hand side ofthe bottle 46, and it is held in this position by the engagement of theplunger roller 12 in the slot E9.

Normally, all of the other pivoted supporting members 45 tend to hangdownwardly due to gravity, 'and are located inla central position whenthere are no kbottles located Vbetween. them, but when the bottle it isinserted in Fig'. 2, the lowermost supporting member which has beenpre-'r vious'ly manually moved tothe left 'supports and contacts thelower right hand portioniof the bottle 46, and, therefore, thejshapfeandl contour of the bottle 46 causes the next supporting member `135above said lowermost supporting memberV to move slightly to the rightand contact the upper right handportion of bottle fit and the lower lefthand portion of the'bottle 48m/'to support'the same. l

When 'the next bottle 45a is inserted,`itwill be Vfound that the cushionof one of the members 45 is' located above thecenter-of bottle 46 andbelow the center of bottle @Sa so that the bottle 46a cannotpassdownward. Removal of the bottle 46 will automatically permit the cushionof thissupporting member topivot toward the left in Fig. 2, to let thebottle 46a descend. Until the lowermost bottle et is removed,the nextupper bottle and all others are held in their stacked condition.

In loading the machine thereafter, bottles are insertedV alternately inthe rightand the left hand stacks, each bottle resting upon a cushion l,which cushion, being` pivotally supported, Arests upon the next bottlebelow itin the other stack. The cushioned supporting members arestabilized by the-.insertion ofthe bottles,.and the bottles are stackedin such manner that they maybe removed alternately from one series orthevother by control of the lowermostV pivoted supporting member45. Y

When loading has been completed, the end guide members 34 are againpivoted over from the dotted line position of Fig. 3 to the full lineposi-- tion, to confine all of the bottles in the framework.

When a purchaser desires to secure a bottle from the vending machine, aCoin, such as, for example, a nickel, may be droppedin the. slot 89.This coin engages the switch lever Si against the tension of a lightspring 94, moving the switch lever'to the closed position, after whichthe coin is passed into a coin box, andthe switchlever returns' to itsopen` position.

The momentary closing-lof the" contacts by the switch lever 9| closes anelectric circuit', which includes a suitablev source of electromotiveforce for thecoils 84` of the solenoid, such as, v:for example, an l1volt source, which maybe connected in the circuit in series withthesolenoid coils Se and switch contacts of the switch 9i.

Momentary 'closing of the electric circuitV energzes the solenoid coils,whichV generate a magnetic fiuxin the core 32`that' passes through theplunger it. Theplunger 'Meis momentarily drawn down'- ward to a centralposition in the core 82, `'being guided by rod 86 in bore 8l.

Each bottle 45a tends to slide downward,y due to gravity, and tendsftocam the'pivoted supporting member upon which it rests', away from thebottle in question, so that the bottle may pass by the supportingmember,l but each of the cushioned portions 5i of these'supportingmembers is restrained against such movement by the bottle below it.

Y The lowermost cushion portion 5l of support-V ing memberli isrestrained in its positionn Fig.

2 only by the latchingv plate t3 and plunger roller Whenthe `plunger ismomentarily withdrawn,

l the lowermost supporting member tais pivoted counterclockwise inrFig'.2until the 'lowerrnost bottle 46 passes the cushion portion 51 Vofthi'ssupportingmember. Atzthesame time the latch- Y ingplate-BB is pivotedover to a position in which the groove 68 registers with plunger roller12;

and as 'the plungerLis immediately returnedetoitsV upper'positionbythespringi, the roller 'I2'b'ej comes engaged in the groovet.

As the lowermost bottle 45 drops into the trough 2i) and its pivotedsupporting member 45' moves toward the right in Fig. 2, there is nothingto restrain thenext supporting member/45a and its pivots toward theleft, releasing'the `next bottle 45a, which drops down` on the lowermostysupport--V ing member 45` that is' now latched in'its right` handposition by means of plunger roller 12 in the slot S8. Y

At the same timev Yall of the other supporting memberslt have theircushion portions 51 pivoted over toA the oppositeposition, passing onebottle; and thereafter the bottles assume a similarposition, but-'allthevbottles are one'step lower in the series. l `When the next `coin isdroppedv andthe solenoid is energized and the plunger is withdrawn, theprocess is repeated, bottle 46a being dropped into the trough, andthelatching memberrreturns to the position of Fig, 2.

Thus bottles 'are alternately dropped from one and-.then the otherseriesof bottles, but the bottles are kept out of contact with each other andengage only the metal gui-des vand the cushioned porn an improvedvending .machine for'bottled mer` chandisesuch as beverages, which issimple in construction and which i-s adapted to handle the bottleswithout possibility of marring or wearing 'off the printed matter whichlis impressed upon the glass ci the bottle.

The mechanism also protects' the labels Vand printedmatter which isappliedto bottles inthe form of stickers'.

The present device may be Vconstructed in ,any number of' units, which`may be placed side by side in the refrigeration compartment of asuitable cabinet, and this mechanismis adapted to receive a maximumnumber of bottlesin a minimum amount of space. f

ll-heme'chanism is simple, positive, and while it assures the purchaserof securing a merchandise unit for each coin, it also'preventstheusers/from getting more than one bottle forany coin. The structure ofthe mechanism is adapted to'be manufactured at a low cos-t due tothegreat simplicity of the mechanism by means'oi which elec'- tric motors,revolving cams, endless chains, metal pockets, gear reducers, etc., ofthe prior art devices are eliminated. Thus, the presentinvention greatlyreduces the original cost of the'vending machine and it may be operatedat a mu'ch'lower cost than the devices of the prior art by virtue of thesmall amount of Velectricity consumed' in the momentary operation of thesolenoid switch as comparedY with the'driving Voi electric motorsinv-the devicesof the prior art. Y

While I-have illustrated a preferredembodiment of my invention,manymodications may bemade without d'epartingfrom the spirit oftheinvention, and I do not Ywish to be limi-ted to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. In a vending machine for bottled merchandise, the 'combination ofmeans for guiding and maintaining the alignment of two stacks of bot-.-tles by engagement on three of the sides of said bottles, spacing meanslocated between the bottles of adjacent stacks, the bottles in the twostacks being offset vertically from each other, supporting means for thelowermost bottle in one stack or the other, depending upon the positionof said supporting means, coin controlled means for controlling theposition of said supporting means, whereby the supporting means may bereleased to move laterally into position to hold the lowermost bottle inone stack while releasing the lowermost bottle in the other stack.

2. In a vending machine for articles having an external surface circularin cross section, the combination of a supporting frame with a pluralityof upwardly and downwardly extending guides for engaging the outer sidesof a plurality of stacks of the said articles, the articles to be vendedbeing arranged in a pair of upwardly and downwardly extending series,with the articles Y staggered vertically in one stack with respect tothe articles in the other stack, movably mounted bail-shaped spacingmembers carried by said frame, said spacing members being locatedbetween the articles of one stack or series and the articles of theother stack or series, and a bailshaped support member havinghorizontally eX- tending trunnions pivotally mounted in the frame andlocated below the center of the lowermost article in one of said stacksand adapted to provide a support for said lowermost article, which inturn supports the articles of both stacks through the intermediary ofsaid spacing members, and coin-controlled means releasing for movementsaid support member from a position where it supports the lowermostarticle of one stack to a position where it supports the lowermostarticle of the other stack, one article being dropped from the lowermoststack at every movement of said support member, and all of the otherarticles moving downward vone step at each movement of said supportmember.

In a vending machine for articles having an external surface circular incross section, the combination of a supporting frame with a plurality ofupwardly and downwardly extending guides for engaging the outer sides ofa plurality of stacks of the said articles, the articles to be vendedbeing arranged in a pair of upwardly and downwardly extending series,with the articles staggered vertically in one stack with respect to thearticles in the other stack, movably mounted bail-shaped spacing memberscarried by said frame, said spacing members being located between thearticles of one stack or series and the articles of the other stack orseries, and a bailshaped support member having horizontally extendingtrunnions pivotally mounted in the frame and located below the center ofthe lowermost article in one of said stacks and adapted to provide asupport for said lowermost article, which in turn supports the articlesof both stacks through the intermediary of said spacing members, andcoin-controlled means releasing for movement said support member from aposition where it supports the lowermost article of one stack to aposition where it supports the lowermost article of the other stack, onearticle being dropped from the lowermost stack at every movement oflsaid support member, and all of the other articles moving downward onestep at each movement of said support member, said movable spacingmembers comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted bail-shapedtransverse members carried by said frame.

4. In a vending machine for articles having an external surface circularin cross section, the combination of a supporting frame with a pluralityof upwardly and downwardly extending guides for engaging the outer sidesof a plurality.

of stacks of the said articles, the articles to be vended being arrangedin a pair of upwardly and downwardly extending series, with the articlesstaggered vertically in one stack with respect to the articles in theother stack, movably mounted bail-shaped spacing members carried by saidframe, said spacing members being located between the articles of onestack or series andthe articles of the other stack or series, and abailshaped support member having horizontally extending trunnionspivotally mounted in the frame and located below the center of thelowermost article in one of said stacks and adapted to provide a supportfor said lowermost article, which in turn supports the .articles of bothstacks through the intermediary of said spacing members, andcoin-controlled means releasing for movement said support member from aposition where it supports the lowermost article of one stack to aposition where it supports the lowermost article of the other stack, onearticle being dropped from the lowermost stack at every movement of saidsupport member, and all of the other articles moving downward one stepat each movement of said support member, said support member comprisinga transverse member carried by cranks and trunnions, a latching member,and electrically actuated means to control the position of said latchingmember, said latching member being elongated and xed to one of saidtrunnions and having grooves for engagement by the electrically actuatedmeans.

5. In an article vending machine, the combination comprising guidesdefining a section through which said article normally gravitates fromtop to bottom, said section being of a width to hold a plurality ofseries of the articles vertically aligned in displaced relationshiplaterally of the section, spacing members disposed in a row extendinglongitudinally in the mid-portion of the section, said spacing membersbeing separated from one another in the row so as to lie betweenadjacent articles in said series to separate said articles and lmaintainthe articles of one series in staggered relationship to those of theother, means supporting said spacing members for movement laterally ofthe section a distance sufiicient to allow alternate passage of thearticles of said series across opposite sides of the spacing members,and means for alternately retaining the lowermost one of said spacingmembers in a supporting position under one or the other of said series,whereby said lowermost one of the spacing members normally retains thearticles in said section and releases one of said articles uponeachmovement from a position below one of the series to a position belowthe other series.

6. In a vending machine for articles of circular section, thecombination comprising guides defining a section through which saidarticles normally gravitate -from top to bottom, said section @essere Yf andmaintaiu *the` articles'- of one-series lin stage gered-'1relatonfsh'ip to those .or the other; means for:` supporting saidYspacing-2 members `for 'nl ove 15 ment laterally of the sectionaidistahcefsuiiieierit toallow passage 'ori-he1V articles through thesection 4on successive alternate sid/esci .thefspac2 iig meri-iloers,yand means 'for alternatelyreleasing thief lvver'n'iostfT articles# oftlie Sries' from' the v22) section.

'7. Iiiavedingliachineffor articles ofcircular sermon,V theeoiapifiatienfcomprising guides ching afsection throurghuw ,1i-saiiriaily' -gravitate from topto botto being-1era width toi-holdalplur esaid articlesv verticall'jf'aligfne' displacedirelaltioship-lati'ally'ithevsectio spaci'g V`nini-2 be s 'disposedal-roivTestendingflongitudinally in thefmidi-p'ortiori ofthe section;said''spacingmey bershavingarticl'efsparatih portionso a'- a etergreater than'thelaterai displace-men oft e articles i of the series sothat they normaiiy'- lie betweenadjattent-'articlesin sai series to'separate-them'-andmaintaintrieatr esinioref series '35 stagg'er'edlrelationshiplto' those of'fthef other', andhi'eans for supporting said4spacingnieridders for movement-laterally 'ofthe seetioiia'distaricesumcient'to'allowfpassage offthe articles throughYthe'section'ioii=sucessive1alteriiatesidsof the 40 spacing-members: Y

8';- Ai controllingrriechaiiism for attending ma ciiiiieforr articlesround in cross section; compris-` ingf'- a supporting frame having a`plurality of guides for' guiding tW series" of"` tlie articles 45vertically aligned and the'jarticles of theseri'e-'siirl'rstaggered-reiationship toeachiother, the artieie'sof'oiie seriesb'ein'g located `'atan*elevation Whichiisfhetween ytheelevations of'theiartiel'es of theother series,vertieaifrarne.niembersse 'ed 50 tofs id.supportingiframe;.spacirigmenibers mov abi mounte'doii said'frame-members and having portions located between' thearticles of bothseries:` to` prevent'- articles' of' one seri'esfrorn erigf-agingthearticle-sA or the otherseries; arid-movi 55aldleirifie'ans''forsupportingA` the lewfuoriost`r articlethefseriesso-thiat both series are supported tl'reiiefroi-ui` throughthe iL spacing: memb* 1 .and controlled mear-isror effecting release ofsaid. oratie'mearistoieiectfreleasef'oifthetlow'ero0 mostarticle' of;either one of? said seresfresponsiveto theplacin'g-of acoiri: Y e

9: 'A .controuin-g hiecliauisnrfor' afveiidingfmachine for' articlesround' ii'i cisssectih; corriprisingfaiisupporting ffrarn'eihaving aplurality of 65 guides" for guiding two series ofY the articlesvertically; alignedi and`v Wi'tlr the articles: oi? the seriesf-instaggered relationship to eachother; the art le's "o'fohe series' beinglo'cated latan elevation ispetweeh the lelstations"'of the articies'of7o the other series, vertic-al frame embersise'cur'edtolsaidlisupportirig frame; spacing members Imovablymountedonrsaid framemeinb'ers'and having portions locatedl betvveenI the" articles: of:Vboth series tofprevent' .articles of onel serieszirom en; 7'5

Y Y T2 gagingthefarticles ofthe other series'and 'mow 'ableimeansf forsupporting "the lovi'rermo'st'r article in the series so that bothseriesare'isupported therefrom through the. spacing members, andcoin-controlled :means 'for effecting a` release `of said movable meanstoxe'lect'releaseof the lowere l most article v'ofeither `one of '.sai'dYseries responsive' totlie Aplacing of ia coin, said portions of' thespacing'members: being covered With soit,` ree`silientcushions'forengaging the articles'and pree venting their`beingfmarred or dam-aged during' thericoursetlirough th'efmachin'e. t

10.A controlling'mechanismfor ya vending machine -for articles'r'ound incross section, comprising .a"supporting frame y.having Ya plurality oiguidesiorvguiding twoiseries of the :articles verticallyra'lignedandwith the articles of the series in staggeredFrelationship to eachother,`thefar-y ticlesrfoi one' series being located 'at an elevationWhichisbetWeeri th'eelevations of the articles of the otherseriesvertical framev members se'` 1 and movable meansfor supporting thelowerrnost article inatheV series so that Vbotllseries Aare 'supeportedethereirom through the spacing members, andt-coin-controlledfmeansforV effecting Va Yrelease ot:saidmovable-'means-to effect release ofYthe-lowermost article of' eitherone of saidseries responsiveftoYtheipla-cing of agcoin, asupporting mena-ber forthelowermost .ofthearticlesin either Y one of said series, said' movable means'compris-ling a"memberpivotally 'carried by'said vertical frame members and havinga supporting portion mountedon acrank'ra latching member-for controlling the movement'of'said crank, said latchingymernb'er ha'vingftwopositions, and electro-v magnetically actuated means for engaging andholdingA said latchingmember in either of its -two positions, saidlatchingr member being fixed to said movable means-and havinggrooves forengagement by the -electroniagnetically actuated means.- Y

1l.-v Arelease mechanismjfor-releasing articles round incross sectionvfrom a vending machine having a supply of saidarticles supported by thelowermost of said articles in a, stack, comprising a supporting frame,guide means mounted on said frame tofconne the movement of the ar- Yticlesto be vendedrin a predetermined'path, a

' saidflatching member cortoqorising'aJ rod having an endnormally-engaging one of said grooves in j the end of-.thelatchingmember-Whereby the actuationpfA said'V keeper releases saidlatching 'membertopermit lsaid support meniber'to Vbe cammed. by thelowermost article to a secondy position to release the saidlowerrnostarticle frein the 'vending' machine. Y i

Y l2; A release mechanism for releasing articles round in crosssectionfrom a vending .machine havingavsupply offslaid articlessupportedby 'the lowerrnost offs'aid articles in astackgcomprising asupporting frame, guide means secured to said frame to conne themovement of the articles to be vended in a predetermined path, abailshaped support member having horizontally extending trunnionspivotally supported by said frame and engaging the lowermost article tobe vended so as normally to prevent movement and restrain the dischargeof said article from the vending machine, a latching member, saidlatching member xed to one of said trunnions of said support member andhaving a plurality of grooves therein, an electrically actuated keeperfor said latching member comprising a rod having a portion normallyengaging one of said grooves in the latching member whereby theactuation of said keeper releases said latching member to Dermit saidsupport member to be cammed by said lowermost article to a secondposition to release the said lowermost article from the vending machine,said vending machine accommodating a pair of stacks of the articles andhaving therein movable retainingr elements for maintaining theseparation of the stacks as the articles move along the guide means,,said movable retaining elements also serving as supporting spacersthrough which the articles of one stack are supported by the articles inthe other stack, and said latching member permitting said support memberto support the articles in the second stack when cammed over toward saidsecond position.

13. A release mechanism for releasing articles round in cross sectionfrom a vending machine having a supply of said articles supported by thelowermost of said articles in two adjacent stacks, comprising asupporting frame, guide means carried by said frame to conne themovement of 14 the articles to be vended in a predetermined path, aball-shaped support member having horizontally extending trunnionspivotally supported by said frame and engaging the lowermost article tobe vended so as normally to prevent movement and restrain the dischargeof said article from the vending machine, a latching member, saidlatching member xed to one of said trunnions of said support member andhaving a plurality of grooves therein, and an electrically actu-atedkeeper for said latching member comprising a rod having a portionnormally engaging one of said grooves in the latching member whereby theactuation of said keeper releases said latching member to permit saidsupport member to be cammed by said lowermost article to a secondposition to release the said lowermost article from the vending machine,the stacks of articles having their articles disposed in offsetpositions with respect to elevation, whereby a greater number ofarticles can be stacked in a limited space, each pair of articles in thetwo stacks being separated by a bail-shaped spacing member pivotallycarried by said frame to prevent contact and marring of one article bythe other.

MARCUS L. HOLT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,438,502.March 30, 1948. MARCUS L. BOLT It is hereby certified that error appearsin the printed speoiflcation of the above numbered patent requiringcorrection as follows: Column 14, line 2, claim 13, for the Wordball-shaped read bail-shaped; and that the said Letters Patent should beread with this correction therein that the same may conform to therecord of the oase in the Patent Olce.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of May, A. D. 1948.v

[smh] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uowwmssaner of Patents.

